“Energy transition Outlook 2035: Grid enhancement necessary in the future”

Neither the addition of gas-fired power plants in southern Germany nor a sharp decrease in power production from lignite in eastern Germany would limit the need for new power grid infrastructure, a study by Prognos AG, RWTH Aachen, E-Bridge and FGH on behalf of transmission grid operator 50Hertz found. The researchers looked at different scenarios for the future power supply and the necessary grid infrastructure. Further grid expansion was also needed in an Energiewende-world of many decentralised solar PV installations and small battery storage, 50 Hertz said in a press-release. The north and east of Germany will in the future produce much more power than it consumes, the study showed. But in the scenario of a “delayed” or “incomplete” energy transition, Germany could also become a net-importer of electricity.

Read the press release in German here and download the study here.